THE MERCER REGATTA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XXIV, 15 December 1900, Page 1118

THE MERCER REGATTA.

ished in the fact that their language contains no word equivalent to our verb "to remain.” Work is an abomination to the Tziganes, and such trades as they follow intermittently are adapted to a wandering life; they are tinkers, sheep-shearers, horsedealers, and basket-makers. The uncivilised nature of the Tziganes is shown in the matter of clothing. The women and girls go about half naked, the latter merely wearing a small apron, except when they go to the villages, while the men are but little better in this respect, and up to the marriageable age —from twelve to fifteen years of age—dress is regarded as a superfluity. The Tziganes are born beggars. The tourist or traveller who passes an encampment of these gipsies may rely upon it that one or more of the men will follow bis conveyance for half an hour in the hope of getting a coin So deep-rooted is this habit of begging that even those who have acquired a fail amount of the good things of this world and can afford —when the fancy takes them—to live in a town, cannot resist the temptation to ask for money when an opportunity presents itself. Several notable attempts have been made to civilise these gipsies, and the efforts of the Emperor Joseph 11., towards the end of the eighteenth century. are especially worthy of remark.

This monarch ordered the Tziganes to settle down on land which he alloted to them; he erected dwellings for them and distributed agricultural implements and seeet; but instead of living in the houses, they turned those structures into stables for their horses and cows, rigged up tents for themselves on the land, and boiled their seed corn for food. Not to be discouraged, the Emperor adopted stronger measures; he decreed that their language was not to be used, and he took their children from them, and had the youngsters brought up by Austrian and German farmers, subject to a strict code of discipline. But the instincts of the Tziganes proved too much for him; when the children grew up they ran away from their foster-parents, and went baek to the old life. A young Tzigane, who had been brought up in an Austrian family, and had attained the rank of captain in the army, suddenly disappeared; six months later he was discovered among a band of gipsies, leading the primitive life of his fathers. Tn recent years there have been just a few exceptions, which may foreshadow future progress towards civilisation. In Transylvania some Tziganes have settled down to agriculture and one or two trades, and are regarded as orderly and respectable citizens.